For many years now I have been doing live art. It is a passion of mine and a unique aspect to my artistic practice. Recently I was asked to do some live art in the small BC town called, Invermere. This is near where my elders live and a place I have a deep and intimate connection with. I didn’t think it was going to be particularly busy as kids were back in school. This is kind of nice as it meant I could just enjoy painting outside and not feel any pressure to perform. This can be the case if it is a paid gig or a festival where there is lots of people watching your every move. This was a very chill live art session in the East Koots, a picture perfect evening, not too cold, not too hot.

That is until this lovely family showed up, from Italy, who had moved here because they fell in love with the place. Who could blame them really, it is magical, healing, breath taking, to name a few. I could just stare into the sky here for hours and be completely satisfied. As things progress I am introduced to Emma, who was a ball of energy, a mini sun. I quickly realised she had an eye for the painting and before I knew I was taking art direction form her. She pointed to above the bear and said rainbow here. How can I argue with that, bam, rainbow. Then it was a flower here, a butterfly there and before we knew it it was time to call it a day. I stepped back, a little high off paint fumes and just marinated in the is-ness. Moments like this are precious. As they left there was a sheer sense of creative bliss, and a painting that speaks volumes, completely unpretentious, and warm like the sun. The following day I participated in an art and farmers market and wouldn’t you know the family stopped by for a visit. Emma presented me with an illustration, seen below. My heart warmed 1.5 degrees. Life is a funny thing, when nothing seems to make sense, it says Aloha, remember me? In which I say, ” Indeed I do, it’s been some time, thank you for uplifting a wounded spirit.”

I don’t know a lot, the mind wants to know everything, pressuring self to make changes, to fix, to doubt, to play tricks on the truth. I have been quiet lately, learning to listen, to witness, to see. Consciousness is a gift. Life is a gift. Look after your elders. Love them. No matter what. I forgive you. You know who you are. I don’t have a lot to say at the moment, someone will say it for me. I hope you are ok. I hope you have not given up on your dream. I wish you were here. I wish I was there. Wishful thinking. Love is not enough in this world any more. Love more. We created a hell of a mess. The youth will save this planet. It is not a matter of time. It’s a matter of life. If this makes no sense, well I am an artist, and really many things in life make no sense. Onwards.

fotoMahaloness

I have been disconnected from writing blogs, instead I have been taking time to rekindle a spirit, helping out the elders, chasing eagles, breathing, for life is a precious thing.

I have been looking to space a lot. There is so much to see and yet so much beyond my capacity to comprehend, the infinite unseen and unknowing, the frontiers of my humanness that when discovered open doors to an ancient past nearly made extinct.

And now a hälts minimoiton ‘bee see soul’ with soundscape ‘zero’ and featuring a day in the life of this here artist in the BC zone.

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fotoMahaloness

Look into my eyes, look into my soul, what do you see? For if you see what you only want to see you will miss the golden nugget that is my heart and soul.

A little duck aerovane restoration project I have been working on for the elder’s garden shed. This buddhy has seen more than 2 decades so no surprise it was in a little disrepair. Only one wing worked since day one. Now that I have restored the paint it’s time to figure out the wings so they both spin when the wind visits. Crossing my fingers, pretty sure I got this…

Simple tools do the job

wings of gold

One way I like to connect with my true self is on the water, on my fish, even when there’s no waves, it makes me feel human, it rekindles my spirit and washes away the bullshit that humans like to create in order to make drama that only leads to more suffering and sorrow, not good for the spirit, it is imperative to get a cleanse in the river, in the lake, in the ocean, in the water, anywhere where the water be.

Gaia Theory was the impetus for the mural you see below. I was also inspired by ancient mythology received through literature, art, and through storytellers I have met while travelling. I chose this wall because it felt right. The business that occupied the store was a community hub of sorts, with many walks of life entering through it’s door. The irony of the mural was that it was destroyed as a new building replaced the old. I thought this to be a symbol of how we treat Earth, as a disposable item created for our own pleasures, destroy and ‘don’t worry we’ll build a new one’ mentality. Have we become so completely self absorbed, unaware, and ignorant to the very thing that provides life? I know this to be untrue for myself and there are many folk on this planet who do give a damn, and bless their beautiful souls. And bless the souls who don’t care, they perhaps need it the most. We live together on this tiny planet hurtling through infinite space…perhaps we will meet up with a new life form that will show us an alternative way to live…or perhaps James Lovelock is right, AI and cyborgs will take over leaving us more or less pets in zoo. On the up side we get to see what animals have known since humans decided to try to dominate Earth…maybe this the remedy we all need.

The Gaia theory was developed in the late 1960’s by Dr. James Lovelock, a British Scientist and inventor. I am not going to go into specifics here as I think if one is interested they do their own research and make their own conclusions.

Life on Earth

Summer Nights

Oh these spirited Summer Nights

so much delight

to be had

on a warm

still

Summer Night

solo dance party

A-OK

summer spirit

Art of hälts…..

‘true self’ 💧this painting is about rising above the veil, high above your personhood, revealing the truth that sets you free 💙 I don’t know everything and that’s alright, I search for meaning in this life through painting, along the way I find some peace of mind, with a heart of gold, slightly tarnished, it’s alright, I am well on my way to the great reveal, God knows what this human does. (Painting: ‘mawyucan’ the whirlwind place mixed media on canvas soon to be painted over)

A recent watercolor in hybrid art format that again plays on the Gaia theory theme and ancient mythology.

I went for a paddle to see my eagle friend, watching them grow up into adults is such a treat! I can’t help but think we have a respect for one another, and when it gets windy and I fly on my windsurfer across the lake, its not uncommon for this big buddy to say hello, and. then fly off riding the breeze.

‘hälts went for a paddle’ 🌲 hälts SUP minimotion with eagle and a soundscape called ‘hello old friend’ 😐 warning this video may be a little disorientating, and really SUP’ping is a zigzag process, so its true to the experience, which is what a documentary is in my books.

I often think of myself as strange. I observe the people coming into my life, and the people going. I practice being in the moment because the past is done, and the future is zombies, neither one defining me, nor who I am. I have been practicing the art of presence, Being present, opening up, not so much an open book, more open to the little things that remind me that I am here, loved, and loving. For instance my little rabbit friend, Hectar, who does not judge me, nor shoot projections my way, he is just Hectar, he feels safe and trusts me, day in, day out, a constant reminder that love has no bounds, it does not change, even if everything else does when time has it’s way.

Now a hält minimotion featuring BC and stages of some watercolours I have been working on last couple weeks.

‘​Bee to a Flower’

​Painting is….my life, my heart, my spirit.

Life colours our hearts. I do what I can, sometimes it doesn’t seem like enough. Sometimes I take a walk to ease the anxiety that chases me down, looking up top the sky, it’s soft colour palette gentles the mind. I do what I can to make the memories fade, the ones that broke my spirit, hurt my heart and left me in shame. Slowly it fades, the river flows by, a bird effortlessly glides and a friend chases a friend on a Lime down the lane.

What is the solution? Do we just conform? Do we just obey and comply? What is going to bring us to a balance? Is there enough time to turn things around? Do things need to be turned around? Are we so far gone that we have just given up? Are we so corrupted that we just can’t even begin to come clean? Are we so blind that we cannot even see? Is it an illusion? Does it matter? Do I stay? Do I go? Do I be present? Do I watch and do nothing? Do I listen? Am I here? Is this happening? What can I do? Should I just be? Why are we not listening? Why do we argue? Why do we fight? Why do we kill? Is alcohol the answer? Is gambling making a difference? Is anything worth fighting for, winning? I try to understand, I try to be patient, I try to be quiet, so I can listen. What do I hear? What do I see? I can’t make any sense of it. I don’t see the point. I only see that it’s tearing us apart. Are we are all in the same boat, hurtling through an infinite space of misery? Wait. I must listen to my heart, what remains of it, under the scars.

fotoMahaloness

tonight’s paint sesshin ‘painting for wounded earth’ a watercolour that depicts Windermere BC, looking out to the eagle’s nest.

another metaphor

when I go to the desert this will be my way.

A portrait I have wanted to paint over but can’t find it in my heart to do so…Appreciation moment

My mom painted these sometime in the 70’s, she showed me them just recently, made my day, art has that power to do that when it’s made with meaningfulness, even if you may not know it at the time you paint it, if that makes sense.

A Note: No I do not use grammar apps, they suck, they suck the life right out of writing, and make us as uniform as wonder bread, which is not my cup of tea.

Gratitude, love and respect flow through my brush, onto a piece of paper, so the story goes for this painter man. Softening the effects of life’s edge, and silencing the battle between good and evil. I try to be strong, sometimes it feels like a losing cause, this the doing of the doubting mind playing tricks on me. Truth be told, in the depth of my being, lives the real truth, the only truth, and that is, it is just as it is supposed to be, I am fine, golden, and genuine. For many years I thought sadness has followed me, and for the longest time I could not find, the reason, the root, the cause, only false leads and unintentional misdeeds, testing the unconditional love of family and loved ones. Some left, they tried their best, my love no less, and so it goes for this painter man. What lies ahead, I cannot express, for this I do not know. Just know that the light will shine, and I will continue on, in grace, with dignity, and in honour of the ones who gave their lives to the greater meaning.

minimoMahaloness

‘the simple things’

A hälts minimoiton with soundscape ‘right hand left hand’ featuring nothing other than life itself. The watercolour landscape painting titled ‘A painting for wounded Earth’ is of a special place in my heart along the banks of the mighty Columbia River, Windermere BC, Canada. I am currently on a watercolour and landscape trend, when Nature speaks I have learned to listen, if you know what I mean. It must be said that the subject matter may change however the heart and soul that goes into my work is unchanging, timeless, unbound, and universal.